Aerenden: The Zeiihbu Master (Ærenden)

by Kristen Taber

  “I'll let you finish when you feel better,” he said. “Your pain is interfering with your power. You're only going to hurt yourself if you keep trying.”

  “But if I don't heal you, the injury could get worse. Another blow to the head could kill you.”

  “It's all right,” he told her. “No one's going to hit me tonight.”

  “I would prefer it if—” she started to protest, but stopped when he shook his head.

  “My presence here has already cost far too much for too many people. I don't want to hurt you any more than I already have.” He wrapped his arms around her, and she pressed her cheek into his chest in the same way she had minutes before. “Rest,” he said and stroked his hand down her hair.

  They remained that way in silence for a while before Emma spoke, her whisper barely floating across the air. “I heard from my brother. He's alive.”

  “You're certain?” he asked. “Are you sure it's not a trick?”

  “I'm positive,” she answered and brought her hands up to his chest. Pushing back, she looked up at him. “We had a game when we were little. We would hide notes inside trees when we were plotting tricks against people. I found one in a tree at the edge of the village yesterday.”

  “What did it say?”

  “Your grandfather found him. They're gathering the other tribe members who've escaped. They plan to attack within a few weeks.”

  Caide smiled, and for the first time in a long time, he felt genuine joy.

  “There's more,” she said. “Caide, your father is still alive. Stilgan knows it. He wants to exchange Meaghan for you.”

  “He wouldn't,” Caide said. “Emma, my father would never make that trade. The note has to be a fake.”

  “It's not,” Emma insisted. “I know my brother's handwriting.”

  Caide shook his head, still disbelieving the news, and then his heart beat faster with the possibility. “My father might have survived,” he whispered, his voice low not from the desire to keep the guards from overhearing, but from shock. “That means my family might have, too.”

  “Maybe,” Emma said and brought a hand to his cheek. “I don't want to leave you, Caide. Not until I know you're safe. If your grandfather's coming soon, I should wait for him.”

  “You'll be dead before then.”

  Her eyes darkened. The same darkness squeezed the breath from Caide's lungs. It was the truth and they both knew it.

  “I'll have a plan for your escape within a few days,” he continued. “Until then, I'll try to make Stilgan think he's winning me over. I won't let him touch you again.”

  The sound of the bolt scraping across the door echoed through the room. Emma stood and approached the door as it opened. The guard handed her the leaves she had requested, shutting the door and locking it before she even had the chance to inspect them.

  “Are these right?” she asked Caide.

  “Yes.” He removed the leaves from her hands and brought them to the bed. “Sit,” he told her and patted the blanket.

  She sat beside him as he broke open one of the leaves. Yellow oozed onto the blanket. “What is this stuff?” she asked, touching a finger to the sticky goo.

  “Something that will make you feel better,” he told her. “It has cooling properties. Remove your bandages.”

  She lifted her sleeves and stripped off the cotton strips. Her burns looked worse than he had imagined. They covered both sides of her arms, from elbow to wrist, leaving almost no skin untouched.

  “It's going to hurt at first,” he warned her. “But I promise it will get better.”

  She nodded, and then winced when he applied the gel. After he had covered her arms in a thin layer of goo, he kneaded her skin. He tried to keep his touch light, but it did not help. A cry escaped her mouth. Warm tears splashed on Caide's hands as small pools at first, and then fractured rivers. It bothered him to see, but he could do nothing to stop her pain. Not until he finished his job. She shook as his kneading grew deeper, and then she stilled.

  Caide looked up from her arms, fearing the worst, but found a smile on her lips instead. Her tears had disappeared, and so had the pain that lined her face.

  “It's cold,” she said. “It doesn't hurt at all.”

  “That means it's working.” He picked up her discarded bandages and reapplied them. “You'll need to change these when you get back to your hut.”

  “I'll be sure of it,” she said and pulled her sleeves down, covering the bandages. “How did you know to use that bush? I thought it was a weed.”

  “It's prized in Ærenden,” he told her. “Cal, the Guardian who helped us, taught me how to use it. His wife's a Healer.”

  Emma's eyes widened. “A Healer,” she echoed, awe filling her voice. “Do you mean you know a genuine Healer who's trained?”

  “I only met her once,” Caide responded, “but yes, she's a trained Healer. You can be too, if you want. Once I get out of here, I can ask Cal if his wife can train you.”

  “I'd like that,” Emma said, and gestured for Caide to turn around. “Maybe she can teach me how to do this so I don't hurt you.”

  Caide chuckled. “I understand from Cal that healing is supposed to hurt. Otherwise, people would do stupid stuff all the time because it would be easy to get healed.”

  Emma laughed and then the warmth coursed through him again. This time, pain came with it. Despite the throbbing her power caused, it brought a smile to his lips. His pain meant she felt better. He had helped her. And in a few days, his help would be even greater. He would make sure Stilgan could never hurt her again.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  “IT'S NOT the worst dinner we've ever eaten. It's a little bland, though. You couldn't find any herbs?”

  A blonde sugar nut sailed through the air in response to Eudor's question, hitting him square in the forehead.

  “Ouch,” he protested, but grinned as Meaghan readied another nut in her palm. “Save those for the fire, would you? They're better roasted.”

  “You don't deserve them,” she said, but dropped the nut back into the pile at her feet anyway. “My power doesn't work on a whim and a wish, so next time if you want something better, grow it yourself.”

  “I'd love to. You make it look easy enough.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Fine. Starve to death for all I care.”

  He chuckled and tore a hunk of rabbit meat from the leg in his hand. “Not likely with the way Faillen hunts. Thanks to the two of you, I'll be fat by the time we cross the border.”

  “Good,” Meaghan said. “Then we can use you as bait.”

  Eudor's laughter roared at the comment, echoing around the campfire and joining with the laughter of the others enjoying the feast. Despite Eudor's teasing, this was the best meal they had eaten in days. Using Meaghan's power to grow the plants they needed had been an excellent idea. One Cal had been embarrassed to admit he had never considered.

  “I didn't realize your power had advanced this much over the winter,” he explained. “It's impressive.”

  Despite her ongoing fight with Cal, she smiled at the compliment. His own smile in response held relief and she realized her hostility had worried him. She pulled him aside when dinner was complete so they could talk. It had taken her a while to see past her anger, but when she did, she understood why Artair had wanted to catch up to the rest of the group that afternoon. Individually, they could all handle themselves, but they were safer if they stuck together. Lagging behind made everyone vulnerable to attack.

  Cal brought a handful of wild carrots to the horses, saving the largest for the moerith. The snout-nosed creature nibbled on it with the same excitement as the horses had before him.

  “He's an ugly brute,” Cal said. “A bit rough around the edges, but it's hard not to find him endearing.”

  “Kind of like someone else I know,” Meaghan said, lifting her hand to the animal's mane to stroke it.

  “Yeah.” Cal chuckled. “I guess he is a lot like me. I can be an oaf someti
mes.”

  “Not any more than the rest of us. I owe you an apology.”

  “I think you have that backwards,” he responded. The moerith tugged on the carrot, yanking it from his hands, and he snatched it back. “Slow down, boy. It's all you're getting.”

  “Why didn't you tell me the truth?” she asked. Her hand slid to the base of the animal's ear and she ran her thumb along it. The animal stilled and then made a sound similar to a purr. “Did you think you couldn't trust me?”

  Cal shrugged. “A lot happened that day. Ree died. Faillen turned on you. You were worried about Nick. I didn't want to add my burden to yours. You've been through enough, and I still want to protect you, even if you don't need my protection.”

  “I'll always need that,” she told him. “Like you said, we're family, and that's what family does. But protecting me isn't about keeping me in the dark. It would've been nice to know that you had other objectives.”

  “Everyone does,” he replied. The moerith tugged the carrot out of his hand again and this time, he let the animal have it. “No one is selfless in this mission. Not even you, Meaghan. You mean to rescue Caide, but you volunteered for it in the first place because of your feelings for Nick.”

  “I did it for Ærenden, not because I was worried about Nick,” she corrected. “He'll make a better ruler so if anyone's going to be sacrificed on this mission, it should be me.”

  “That's as good an excuse as any,” Cal said. Dropping his hand to her shoulder, he frowned. “But it's not the truth. You may be able to lie to yourself, but you can't fool me.”

  She looked away and he sighed. “If you're afraid of how I'm going to react when I come face-to-face with Stilgan, there's no reason to be. I'll do what's right. I won't take risks to get even with him. He'll receive justice eventually.”

  “He deserves it,” she said. “Talis told me about the Village at Yellow Lake.”

  Cal nodded. “I didn't know it was Malaki who was stationed there. There's a lot the other Elders haven't told me.”

  “Will he be safe?” Meaghan asked. “Can we trust him to do what's right when the time comes, even if it means he can't avenge his wife's and son's deaths?”

  “I don't know,” Cal admitted. “It's possible, but I don't know him that well. The last time I saw him he was ten. Eudor and I lost touch after Alisen's death.”

  A twig snapped behind Cal and he turned. Malaki watched them from a few feet away. He inclined his head toward Meaghan in greeting before addressing Cal.

  “You have a right to be worried,” he told the Elder. “I can shut off my power. I should have when the village was being attacked, but I didn't. Until the end, I hoped I could find a way to defend the villagers. I thought I might be able to rescue my family. Instead, I heard things that changed me.”

  “I understand,” Cal responded. “I can't say I would have done any differently in your position, but if you're a risk to the mission, it might be best to send you home. A Healer can help free you of your ghosts.”

  “I don't want them to go away,” Malaki responded. “My ghosts remind me why I keep fighting. I'm not unstable. I can tell the difference between right and wrong, between what should be done and what shouldn't. And I can protect Meaghan.”

  Cal pursed his lips as he studied the younger man. “But can you walk away from Zeiihbu without seeing Stilgan die?” he asked. “Can you walk away from revenge if it means ensuring success for the mission? Caide's rescue is necessary for the victory of the war.”

  “I know,” Malaki said. “I've listened when I know you'd rather I didn't. I know who the boy is and what he can do. I won't cost us the war to kill one Mardróch. They all have to be stopped and we need Caide to do it.” His eyes trailed to Meaghan. “With your permission, my Queen, I'd like to break from our group after the mission is complete. Once we rescue the boy, if Stilgan isn't dead and Zeiihbu isn't free, I'd like to remain behind to achieve those goals. My wife crossed out of Zeiihbu because she wanted to visit a cousin of hers who lived in my village. She stayed because of me, but she always loved her own land better than ours. It would break her heart to see it like this, to see her people enslaved. I want to free them for her.”

  “You'll sacrifice yourself,” Cal argued, but Meaghan was already nodding.

  “I understand,” she said. “As long as you keep your promise to fulfill our mission first, you have my permission.”

  “Thank you.” Squaring his shoulders, he smiled at her, and then gestured toward the campfire. “Since we're splitting up tomorrow, you might want to fill the others in on the plan. I don't think they'll take kindly to it if you spring it on them at the last minute.”

  Cal raised an eyebrow. “Is there anything you don't know?”

  “I don't like surprises,” Malaki responded. “But don't worry, I'd rather die than let Garon's goons torture me or feed me potions. Your secrets are safe. Shall we go?”

  Cal led the way back to the fire. Everyone sat around it, waiting, and Meaghan wondered if Malaki had already prepared them for what would be coming next. When she told them the news, the shock on their faces erased that question from her mind.

  “What do you mean you're splitting us up?” Artair asked. “There are only eight of us to begin with. It's hard enough to protect you with that few people.”

  “How many of us are staying behind?” Talea asked.

  “Four,” Meaghan answered. “Cal, Faillen, you, and I will climb the mountain alone for the next part of the mission. The rest of the group will wait for our return.”

  “Are you serious?” Talis choked out. “You expect us to sit here and watch the trees while you charge into danger?”

  “Not quite,” Faillen answered. “We actually have a separate mission for you. There's a woman we need to find. She looks like a Zeiihbuan and lives in a village somewhere at the base of these mountains. It's not going to be an easy task, but if you can find her, it will help us with our mission.”

  Meaghan knit her brows at the request and then trailed her eyes from Faillen to Cal. She had not had the chance to tell him about her discovery in the Writer's book, but it appeared Faillen had. Instead of looking surprised, Cal nodded. He walked across the campground to his travel bag, removed a commcrystal and brought it back to Talis.

  “If you find her, contact us on this. We'll also use it to find each other when we return.”

  Talis accepted the crystal. Though he did not look happy with the arrangement, he did not argue. “What will you be doing on the mountain?” he asked.

  “Getting help. I'm afraid that's all we can safely tell you.”

  “Then why can't I go?” Talis asked. “I'm better at tracking than Talea is.”

  “But she has the strongest power,” Cal said and sat down on the log next to Talis. He placed a hand on the younger Guardian's shoulder. “We'll watch out for her. I promise. But if things go the way we hope, you have nothing to worry about. Faillen knows the areas to avoid in these mountains. He's spent some time in and around them. And Garon's army hasn't felt the need to explore them yet. We'll probably be safer than you.”

  Talis clutched the crystal between his hands and nodded. “Be sure of it,” he said. “Please.”

  “I will,” Cal promised. “Let's get to bed. We have an early day tomorrow. Who wants the first guard shift?”

  “I'll take it,” Artair offered.

  “Me too,” Talea said.

  “I'm after that,” Talis responded.

  “And me,” Malaki volunteered.

  “All right,” Cal agreed. “Faillen and I will go last. We have a few hours of travel together before we reach the base of the mountain. Have pleasant dreams.”

  By the worry Meaghan saw lining everyone's faces, she had a feeling their dreams would be anything but.

  §

  DESPITE DRINKING a full cup of clover bush tea, Meaghan could not sleep. She nodded off almost immediately, but woke within a few hours. Her tent remained silent, indicating that Talea had
not returned from guard duty. Meaghan yawned and climbed out of bed. Wandering out to the campfire, she found Malaki and Talis at their posts. She scanned the campsite, but did not see Talea anywhere.

  “What are you doing up?” Talis asked her. “I thought you took the tea.”

  “It wore off.”

  “Then take some more.” He rose from his seat to shift the kettle to the edge of the fire. “You need sleep if you intend to tackle the mountain tomorrow. It won't be easy.”

  “No, it won't,” she agreed and scanned the forest for movement. Even by a full moon, she could not see far into the dense underbrush. “Talea needs sleep too. She hasn't returned to the tent.”

  “She's taking some time to herself,” Talis said

  “With razor beasts tracking us?” Meaghan brought her attention back to him. He shrugged and sat down again. “Do you know where she is?”

  “I have a general idea. She's safe.”

  “That's not good enough. We need to know exactly where she is.”

  Talis stretched out his legs in front of him and crossed his ankles. Meaghan glared at him.

  “She's my sister,” he said. “If I'm not worried, you shouldn't be.”

  Too irritated to respond, Meaghan simply turned and walked away.

  “You really shouldn't…”

  Talis's protest faded as she moved deeper into the woods. A cursory look of the surrounding area produced nothing, so she broadened her search, quickening her pace as she moved. She had no desire to serve as a razor beast meal while trying to keep Talea from the same fate.

  Within five minutes of the campsite, the woods yielded to a small clearing. In the center of it, a man and a woman sat on top of a boulder, their bodies intertwined in an embrace. At first, Meaghan could only make out Talea's profile, but when moonlight broke from behind a cloud, illuminating the man's face, she understood why Talis had not been concerned. Meaghan receded into the shadows.

  “I know you want to do your duty, Talea,” Artair said. He brought a hand to her face to cup her cheek. “I'm proud of what you can do, but I don't want to lose you.”